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Muhammad Ali mural to be auctioned off to benefit the Cincinnati Blind Association

Posted at 12:01 PM, Jun 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-10 12:01:51-04

CINCINNATI -- With the passing of fighter Muhammad Ali, a mural painted in his honor is getting renewed attention and will go on auction to benefit the Cincinnati Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Pilot Dog academy of seeing-eye dogs.

Cincinnati native William Rankin painted the mural about six years ago, but never signed it. Around the time of the mural's creation, Rankin said he got in a fight with would-be robbers in Evanston, and the injuries led to the loss of his eyesight. Rankin is now legally blind.

With Ali's passing, Rankin will be given the chance to publicly sign his work before the Givens Group offers it up for auction.

"He's always been a part of my life," Rankin said. "I'm 60 years old, so I've never not known Muhammad Ali. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee and everybody knew that."